I drove the original route of the A63 from Hull…

It is Hull's most famous – and arguably its most frustrating – road. The A63 is the main route in and out of the city, and after any time away, that first sight of the Humber Bridge as you whiz (sometimes) along the carriageway instantly makes you feel like you're home. These days, the A63 that most of us know and love (or hate, depending on the roadworks) ends as it joins the M62 at Newport. But there is another, older A63 that was once the main route all the way from Hull to Leeds. It is still there now, though some sections have been renamed. Nearly 50 years on from the completion of the last stretch of the M62, I decided to trace the old route of the A63 to find out what it's like today. Along the way I explored villages that are now off the beaten track and discovered centuries of history. Here's what I found. READ MORE: How Castle Street looked before the A63 – complete with a lost 'little' bridge From secret lakes to edge of the world – 13 of the best views to enjoy in East Yorkshire A the Newport junction with the M62, the route of the old A63 is not obvious, as the road has now been renamed the B1230. However, the signs are soon clear to see. Once you reach the village proper, the road opens out into what used to be a three-mile stretch of dual carriageway. It's a fairly relaxing drive, enhanced by the pretty crossing of the Market Weighton Canal, where planters and flower boxes offer a splash of colour. The road crosses the M62 on the way into the historic town of Howden, which boasts some excellent delis if you're in need of a pitstop, along with an attractive minster, complete with intriguing ruins. The old A63 at Gilberdyke (new signed as the B1230). A three-mile stretch of the road between here and Newport was a dual-carriageway, but it has now been surpassed by the M62. (Image: Google) Just outside the town is the old crossing of River Ouse, at Boothferry Bridge, which dates back to 1929 and is a familiar sight from the M62 Ouse Crossing. However, instead of crossing the river, I turn north at the Ferryboat Inn roundabout. Plans to build a car showroom in place of the iconic white inn were refused last summer. From here the A63 once again takes that name and the single-carriageway road heads through flat countryside towards a bridge over the River Derwent and then into the village of Hemingbrough, where a large “country pursuits” store reminds me that I'm now a long way from the city. From here, it's not far to Selby. Here, the A63 now follows a bypass, which crosses the River Ouse on a swing bridge built in 2004. But I follow the old route across the toll bridge (the earliest crossing of the Ouse south of York) and through the town itself, where I decide to stop to have a wander. Selby is dominated by the very impressive Abbey, which was founded just after the Norman Conquest. Inside, displays tell the story of the church from 1069 all the way up to a visit by Queen Elizabeth II in 1969, for a Royal Maundy service. The high street, meanwhile, was a pleasantly bustling place. I pop into a local bar, The Doghouse, where staff tell me that they had just opened their own nano-brewery, called Rhythm & Brews. I'm not drinking, but I make a note to plan an afternoon exploring S
SEE FULL ARTICLE